Combined valve facing and securing means



Sept. 15, 1942.

w. J. CAMPBELL 2,295,772 COMBINED VALVE FACING AND SECURING MEANS FiledAug. 3, 1940 INVENTOR. Z 41475? c/ dmwaazza, BY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1942 COMBINED VALVE FACING AND! SECURING MEANS WalterJ. Campbell, Philadelphia, Pa., ass ignor to Keystone Brass & Rubber00., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August3, 1940, Serial No. 351,037

Claims.

The invention relates to facings for valves of the ball type,particularly those used in flush tanks and elsewhere, and has for anobject to enable the rapid renewal of the rubber facing on which wouldinvolve accuracy in size in order to enable the parts to fit together.

It is an especial aim of this invention to present a device adapted touse on the various prodsuch valves without requiring the use of tools,and 5 ucts of different manufacturers in which rubber without requiringthe plumber to carry a large facings are used upon the ball-type valve,the stock of various sizes. head elements of which are usually cast andpart At present there are two methods of forming machine finished, insuch manner that ther is a face on such valves to engage the seat in thea wide variation from standard size in the prodvalve port, oneconsisting in the use of a washer l0 uct, although those in which theclamping ring is held to a flat face on the valve by means of a employedare of a type generally corresponding screw engaged through the washerand in the to that shown in the views herein. In these valve, andanother very largely used method valves a head portion is mounted upon areduced now general is by the use of a flat disc'of suitable stem. orneck portion, both being formed intefacing material held upon the headof the valve grally with a larger packing part as shown. The by means ofan interiorly threaded ring screwed valve head is finished with amachined face at upon the head of the valve, and having a flange rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the head engage over the edges of thedisc and holding portion, and in these devices the head portion, thesame against the platen face of the valve measured from the saidplaniform face to the head. It is a serious objection to both of thesejunction of the neck therewith varies considermethods, that the screw orthe clamping ring will ably in dimension longitudinally of the device incorrode and be finally destroyed, the screw often different valves, andat times varies considerably breaking off when it is attempted to renewthe in the same valve at opposite sides. It is therewasher held thereby,and the clamp ring becomfore an important aim of my invention to presenting loose at times, even before it is corroded sufa valve facing andsecuring means which will auficiently to break. It is another objectionto the tomatically adapt itself to these variations in clamp ring typeof valve facing that if the ring size, enabling the continuance ofproduction of is not screwed very tightly upon the head, high thegeneral style of head. water pressures will work around th ring and Afurther important aim is to present a facing get under the disc facing,bulging the latter and and securing means which will be applicable todestroying the proper seating of the valve. It is use to thecircumferentially threaded head pera serious objection to the clampingrings type of tion already produced and in use, and enabling facing thatthere is no uniformity of practices my invention to be used as areplacement for the among the manufacturers of such valves as to commonflat disc and clamp ring, enabling the size of the rings, pitch ofthreads, size of the discarding of the clamp ring and the use of myflange, size of the port seat, and otherwise, so single combined Valveface and securing means that plumbers, in order to make repairs musttherewith. carry With them a dozen 01 more different sizes A further aimis to effect a, combined device of Clamp rings, and discs Order t0 beprepared which will coact in a novel way with the convento a renewalrepau} tional peripherally threaded head element of It is therefore anaim of this invention to elirm- Such valves for retention of the device.g i riequlreinent of carrymg dlfierent 51,285 Additional objects,advantages and features of o facmg 6.8mm and 9 present valve? facmginvention reside in the construction, arrangeand mounting and securlngmeans n an integral t d f t 1 d th form, which will be extremelydurable, and not 5 men i com mm 0 p S mv0.ve m e liable to deteriorationby corrosion, and which embgdlment of the mventmn as be i will also befree from the liability of water under rfeadny understood from folmwmgdescrippressure from the valve port gaining access to the andaccjompa'nylng W Wherem: platen face of the valve, under the valvefacing. Fflgure 1 1S perspectlve of combmed I am aware of the practiceof forming a facmg and securing device embodying the invenmovable valvefacing of rubber, such as illustlontrated in the patent to Fritz et al.,No. 1,947,257, Figure 2 is a longitudinal Sec-tional View there-February 13, 1934, and Jones, No. 413,513 of 00- tober 22, 1889, and itis my aim to effect a further Figure 3 is an end View thereofimprovementOver the prior practice by obviating '55 Figure 4 is an elevation of aconventional ball the need for special sizes of valves and valve Valvein Which a flat disc and clamp r are heads, so that they may accommodatethemselves dinarily used as a facing means, but Showing y to each other,and also to obviate the need for invention in Course Of app cat onthereto. special forms of grooves on the valve heads and ure 5 is aSimilar View Showing a further ribs on the valve facing elements, orvice versa, 0 Stage in the application of my invention.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing my device in full final appliedposition thereon.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing my device applied and in longitudinalsection.

Figure 8 is an end view showing the face part of my facing elementconstituting an end View of Figure 6 from the right.

There is illustrated a well known type of ball cock valve stem I8, whichincludes a packing stem portion I I, at the outer end of which a stopflange I2 is formed, and on the adjacent end of which there is projecteda yoke portion l3, apertured to receive therethrough the usual operatinglever of a flush tank. The stem portion II is formed with acircumferential groove in which a familiar packing I4 is disposed, andupon the inner end of the stem there is projected a much reduced neckportion I5, on which a head [6 is formed spaced from the stem adistance, and enlarged and externally threaded, as shown, to receive thefamiliar clamping ring or cap by which the usual disc washer is clampedagainst the platen face of the head l6, which is usually a planiformmachined face in a plane at right angles to the axis of the stem It.

In the views, the device is shown approximately double the actual sizecustomarily used, although as stated, there is some variation in size ofthe device as produced by the different manufacturers. The variationsoccur principally in the size of the head IS, the pitch of the threadsthereof, and other details, which comprise no part materially affectingthe present invention except as herein indicated. In one valve largelyused, the head It is formed with a right hand end or platen faceapproximately five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and the measurementsof the head from the end face to the inner termination of the head nextto the neck may vary between three-sixteenths of an inch and one-quarterof an inch.' The neck portion I 5 in such a valve would be approximatelythree-eighths of an inch in diameter immediately adjacent the head.

The valve facing and securing means in the present instance comprises asubstantially thimble-shaped member of elastic rubber, including a headportion l3, which forms the facing of the valve subsequently, this headportion having an external surface approximately in the form of ahemisphere, the valve having a socket l9 therein with cylindrical sideor sleeve walls, and

7 extending into the head 18' a distance, the end face of the socket,however, not being parallel to the external face of the head, but beingflattened, as at 29, so that the head wall is thickened at its centralpart. The side wall surfaces of the socket also are spaced slightly morefrom the base 2! of the head l8 than are the surfaces forming thejunction of the side wall of the socket and the head wall 20 thereof,although this junction is curved, substantially, as shown in Figure 1.The body wall portion 22 of the device is eX- tended a distancelongitudinally from the thickened base portion 2|, as shown at 22, witha thickness slightly less than the minimum thickness of the head portionI8 where the walls of the socket l9 approach closest to the externalsurface of the head l8. The side wall portions of the device arecontinued integrally from the part 22 longitudinally, with a slightlyreduced thickness, as at 23. The actual size of the device asmanufactured for application to a valve head of the sizes abovedescribed, would involve a diameter of one-half an inch at the base 2|of the head I8, and the internal diameter of the socket l9 would beapproximately three-eighths of an inch. The portion of the wall 22 wouldextend for a distance longitudinally of approximately 'three-sixteenthsof an inch, while the part 23 would extend slightly over one-eighth ofan inch, It will be understood, of course, however, that thesemeasurements are merely exemplary, and that the size and proportions ofthe device may be varied considerably to adapt it to various intendeduses. The stated size of the article, however, for application to valveheads is adapted to use upon valves of a considerable range of size, andso far been found applicable to all ball cock valves used inconventional flush tanks for water closets. The rubber used in thearticle thus described is the same throughout, both in the head and thesleeve portion, and is preferabl of a highly resilient, very tough,rubber which is adapted to stretch considerably, as may be appreciated,and will tend to recover its initial size after severe stretching.

In the use of this article, where the facing upon a conventional ballvalve is to be renewed, the usual retaining ring or cap as called in thetrade, is removed and the old washer and the cap both discarded. My newcombined facing and retaining device is then engaged manually upon thehead it of the valve device by inserting one side of the head into theopen end of the device while with the fingers the open end is stretchedentirely across the head and drawn thereonto by successive stages, asshown in Figuges 4, 5, and 6, until the head portion 18 lies as nearlyfiat as possible against the platen or end face of the valve head. Theinternal diameter of the socket l9 being approximately three-eighths ofan inch and the external diameter of the head It being approximatelyfiveeighths of an inch, considerable stretching of the walls of thedevice are thus required. In this manner, the base line 2! of the headI8 is drawn close to the peripheral boundary of the stop face of thehead 16, as shown in Figures 6 and '7, and the wall portion 22approximately covers the threaded portion at the sides of the head It,while the wall portion 23 contracts inwardly of the head, and forms aflange-like part 24 when the facing member is drawn fully upon the headIii. By reason of the severe distension of the wall 22, the innersurfaces are forced into the threads of the head is, as shown in Figure'7, so that it becomes interfitted with the threads, adding to thesecurity of the device against accidental longitudinal withdrawal fromthe head I6, in addition to which the contraction of the wall portion23, as at 24, acts as a highly effective retaining means for the device,as well as a closure against the neck portion If, by which access ofwater to the interior of the facing device is prevented.

While the wall portion 22 requires considerable stretching, in itsintroduction over the head of the valve, the dome shaped head or facingportion I 8 of the article, by reason of its shape does not require somuch stretching, It is only necessary for the base 2! to be drawnoutward slightly, because the external diameter of the article morenearly approximates that of the head l6, than does the initial interiordiameter of the wall portion 22. Furthermore, by reason of the domeshape of the part IS, the central part does not offer materialresistance to the rawing out of the base 2!, and therefore the headl8which subsequently constitutes the facing of the valve-is not placedunder maaccommodation to be effected by stretching of the wall portion22. In consequence, the head l8 automatically centers itself on the head16 so that a valve facing disc of uniform thickness fitted accurately tothe head It is formed on the face of the head I6. In addition to thefact that the thinner wall portion 23 is adapted to be more safelystretched over the valve head without likelihood of tearing, splitting,or gouging the rubber thereof, it serves as a leading edge requiring theleast manual effort for its engagement around the head l6, and then maybe utilized to draw the thicker wall portion 23 longitudinally aroundthe head 16 until the head [8 is fully alined with the edge of the valveplaten. As indicated by the lead lines from the reference character 2|,the boundary of the head I8 is defined by a slightly projectingcontinuous rib or thickening of the head, insuring its proper alinementwith the platen surface of the head It.

It will be readily appreciated that should there be a variation in thediameter of the head It, either over or under standard dimensions, thewall 22 will accommodate itself thereto by contracting thereupon ineither case, merely requiring slightly greater stretching in case of thelarger size, when the device is applied to the valve head. Also, shouldthe head have a greater measurement longitudinally than standard, thewall portion 23 will still be able to contract inwardly thereof, and incase the head is of less than standard longitudinal dimensions, thiswill be compensated for by more of the wall portion 23 or a part of thewall portion 22 contracting inwardly of the head of the valve, as willbe readily understood. In either case, the extremity of the wallportions of the facing device will contract against the neck portion !5,forming a complete cap closure for the head of the valve and its neckportion for a distance, as shown in Figures 6 and '7.

On account of the fact that the valve seats which engage the usual valvedisc in valves of this type is of much smaller diameter than the valvehead, it will be appreciated that the head portion l8 of my device willfit equally well on a considerable range of sizes of valve seats orports, without requiring special sizes in the head l8. Ordinarily, inthe standard size the thickened portion of the central part of the headwill function in a manner corresponding to the spherical face of a ballvalve with an axially ball shaped valve element, although this may notbe found material, since the elastic nature of my facing device willenable it to accommodate itself to valve seats with a slight pressureBut when flush tank valves are involved, it will be appreciated that avery ready seating of my valve face will be effected under the operationof the usual float and operating levers involved in such devices. It hasbeen found in practice that the rubber in my valve will functioneffectively in the wall parts 22 and 23 throughout the life of the headportion 18, or over a satisfactory period of time without failure due todeterioration of the rubber, and the difficulties involved bydeterioration of the cap heretofore used as clamp rings for valve seatdiscs is entirely eliminated, since each renewal of the valve seatfacing with my invention involves a self adaptation of the sleeve orwall portions 22-23 to the valve head appropriate to the particular sizeof the valve head.

The amount of material involved in the wall portions 2223 is so smallthat the cost of the device is not increased appreciably over the costof producing a simple valve head facing of the disc type, since mydevice is adapted to be produced by molding originally in its completeform, without requiring die-stamping or other machine operations inaddition.

The saving in cost of time for labor in replacement is many times thecost of the complete device, for it is well known that costs for laborin plumbing repairs and replacements is high, and this saving is notonly in the time required for the removal and replacement of parts, butalso in obviating the need for searching for, and/or trying varioussizes of caps in the conventional facing device, difliculties withmatching threads, and otherwise.

I claim:

1. A facing for spigot valve heads and securing means combined,consisting of a member of highly elastic and resilient materialsubstantially in the form of a thimble having a thick domeshaped facingportion adapted to form the facing of an engaged valve, and integral,substantially cylindrical wall sleeve portions substantially thinnerthan the head portion of the thimble, and formed with a transversediameter smaller than the diameter of the valve head to which it is tobe applied, adapted to be engaged manually around a biscuit-shapedconventional spigot valve whereby sleeve portions will be stretchedaround the valve head and the extremity of the sleeve portion maycontract inwardly of the valve head, substantially as described.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the head portion of the device isinitially substantially semispherical, and of a character and relationto the valve head to which it is applied such that when the facing is,applied to the valve head with the walls thereof fully engaged aroundthe valve head, the head portion of the facing member will be flattenedtoward the platen face of the valve, substantially as described.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which the wall portion of said facingelement includes an integral substantially cylindrical part open at itsouter end, being thick adjacent the head portion of the thimble forengagement around a valve head, said wall being much thinner adjacentits outer end portion.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said head portion of the facing issubstantially thicker than the wall portions, and in which the wallportion adjacent the head is substantially thicker than the outer wallportion, the said outer wall portion being comparatively thin andadapted to be stretched over a valve head of much greater diameter bymanual application,

5. The article of claim 1 in which the junction of the head portion ofthe facing with said wall portion is defined by an externalcircumscribing rib.

WALTER J. CAMPBELL.

